NORTH SYDNEY, N.S. — Adapting was the only option for Albert Bonnar when restaurant-related business for his Northside meat shop started to dry up amid COVID-19 precautions that have many people staying home.
For Bonnar's Meats, the most successful aspect of adaptation so far has been an online special — a variety of meats you can pay for over the phone — and drive up to their North Sydney location where staff pops your order into the trunk of your vehicle.
Staff could barely keep up with the demand.
"A lot of people called and asked how to get the order. They didn't want to come in and we decided whatever it takes to get it there, we will do it," Bonnar said. "Whatever it takes to make them happy. Everybody wants to stay safe, so we will do whatever it takes to keep them safe."
His meat shop has never been quiet, but Bonnar estimates a 50 per cent loss in business related to restaurants that are mostly closed or only doing takeout orders as per COVID-19 restrictions. What he lost in that business has mostly been replaced by over the phone orders.
"I may get some more business out of this, when this is all over. That's a good thing about it."
Cape Breton University professor George Karaphillis said necessity is the mother of invention and many local businesses have been getting creative in these trying times.
"Entrepreneurs, by definition, are innovators and they know how to handle the unexpected," he said. "That is what small business people are supposed to be, they are supposed to be able to handle the unexpected but this is kind of totally out of left field."
Still, he tipped his hat to those turning to online selling methods and relying more on delivery.
The partnership between the Cape Breton Food Hub and the Cape Breton Farmers' Market was also noted. Virtual ceilidhs from Cape Breton musicians is also an inventive turn of events, he said.
Karaphillis expects innovation to surface in many other forms as COVID-19 precautions continue to keep people in social isolation mode.
"This is just a start," he said. "We are only weeks into this and there will be more innovation come into play as the time goes on. Hopefully, the local businesses will find a way to adapt and will be more resilient in the future. It's bound to happen. Innovation always happens when you have needs in a disruption like this."
Bonnar will be in business for 26 years in May and said some people still don't know he exists. But many people have become familiar with his shop over the past few weeks and he hopes that will continue as people from across the island access his products.
